Practical Protein Chemistry - A. Darbre 1989

Enzymatic fragmentation of the polypeptide chain
Conclusion

This chapter focuses on Methods for generating large protein fragments and, accordingly, on limited Hydrolysis techniques using highly specific Enzymes. Such methods play an essential role both in determining protein Amino acid sequences and in Structure-function studies. The most specific proteases hydrolyze the polypeptide chain at basic amino acid residues—Lys and Arg—or at acidic ones—Glu. Other Enzymes exhibit a broader Specificity toward hydrophobic amino acid residues; nevertheless, they have found widespread application in the supplementary hydrolysis of large protein fragments. This chapter also describes The properties of a protease that cleaves at Proline residues. Although of undeniable interest, this enzyme is not yet widely used. It is to be expected that the capabilities of analytical Protein Chemistry will continue to expand in the future thanks to the commercial release of new preparations from among those described in this chapter and the discovery of novel highly specific enzymes.